Submitted by: Dan Rich

Joseph John Guentert Jr

Feb. 13, 1918 – Dec. 19, 1994

South Bend Tribune 12/21/1994

SOUTH BEND - Joseph J. Guentert Jr., 76, of Corby Boulevard, who became prominent as a spokesman for Fair Tax Inc., died at 1:49 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph's Medical Center. As Fair Tax spokesman from the mid-1980s through the early-1990s, Mr. Guentert was a frequent and determined critic of tax funding for various city projects. Mr. Guentert retired in 1976 as a senior engineer technician for the Bendix Energy Controls Division after 35 years of service. He was born Feb. 13, 1918, in South Bend and was a lifelong area resident.

On Dec. 30, 1944, in Mishawaka, he married Mary Ellen Frank. She survives with five daughters, Anne Cassler of Humble, Texas, Louise Springer of Menasha, Wis., Christine Morningstar of Rocky Mount, N.C., Mary Claire Kopp of Greenlawn, N.Y., and Margaret Simmons of Fort Myers, Fla.; four sons, Joseph J. III of San Ramon, Calif., Lawrence of West Lafayette, Ind., Andrew of South Bend and Dr. Paul of Longview, Texas; 20 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four sisters, Genevieve Tiede of Martinsville, Ind., and Rosemary Ziolkowski, Cecelia Lowman and Adelaide Remmo, all of South Bend; and three brothers, Bert of California, Roman of South Bend and Frank of Niles. He was a member of St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church and a three-time candidate for state representative.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in McGann Funeral Home, 2313 E. Edison Road, where a parish wake will be at 4:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of St. Joseph County, Right to Life of St. Joseph County or St. Anthony School.

Editor: He is the son of Joseph John Guentert and Johanna “Jennie” Schueller.